136 July the Destination Magazine

the Issue 136 Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences Off The Beaten Path

In This Issue

Experience New Rivers, Trails & Festivals This Summer

We Tell You Where To Go!

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

Whether you’re a barbecue aficionado or looking to try something new, the Gaston Co. Cue Trail is a great guide to our best BBQ.

GoGastonNC.org/bbq-trail

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July 2022 Issue 136

the

W

e tell you where to go! Whether you are a long time resident or new to the area, you’ll find local & regional events, destinations and experiences in the Destination Magazine™ that will give you memories for a lifetime The Destination Magazine™ is your guide to new destinations and experiences to discover on your own, or outings w i t h f r i e n d s a n d f a m i l y. We hope you will find a new memorable experience ever y month in the Destination Magazine™ .

We know we are on to something!

Lisa & Andy Jay Publishers Published by: Magic Table Media Group LLC Business Development: Lisa Jay, Mariah McDowell, Sylvia Dalrymple Creative: Andy Jay Contributing Writers: Craig Distl, Leah Hughes, Allison Andrews, Tory Mabe, Mara Shelton, Tara Martin, Lindsey Pegg Contributing Photographers: Andrew Zachary Digital Imagery, Paul Newton, Lisa Jay, Cover: South Mountain State Park, Burke County, NC The list of events in this publication is compiled from various sources dates & times are tentative & subject to change. the Destination Magazine™ is published

by Magic Table Media Group LLC 369 Dovefield Drive Summerfield, NC 27358 (704) 706-2365 www.theDestinationMagazine.com ©2022 All rights reserved. Magic Table Media Group LLC, Agents & Advertisers do not necessarily condone any activities or advertisement listed in this magazine. The Publisher and its officers, employees, agents, volunteers, and sponsors are not responsible for any loss or damage which might be associated with patronage of any party named in this publication, and is not responsible for any Act of God such as inclement weather, fire, flood, natural or man-made disaster, etc., that are out of the control of the Publisher, which affect the publishing of this magazine.

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Contents Let The Gaston County ‘Cue Trail Be Your Guide To Some Great Eating

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Blast Into Summer Adventure In Stokes County

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Cary Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival

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Inspired Music Making: Eastern Music Festival

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Go With The RoCo Flow

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The Perfect Way To Cool Off In The Summer

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the

Advertising

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

Blowing Rock Draft House & Brewery

Hillman Beer

Blowing RockAvenue Draft House Beer 883 Highland SE, & Brewery 78Hillman Catawba Avenue Suite F, 78 Catawba Avenue Suite F, 883 Highland Avenue SE, Hickory, NC 28602 Old Fort, NC 28762 Hickory, NC 28602

Catawba Brewing 212 S Green Street, 212 S Green Street, Morganton,NC NC28655 28655 Morganton, Catawba Brewing

Cabin 68 68 Cabin

1670 SouthwestBlvd, Blvd, 1670 Southwest Newton,NC NC28658 28658 Newton,

Fonta Flora Flora Brewery Brewery -- Downtown Fonta Downtown 317

N Green N317 Green Street,Street, Morganton, Morganton,NC NC28655 28655

Fonta Whippoorwill Fonta Flora Flora Brewery Brewery -- Whippoorwill 6751 Nebo, NC NC 28761 6751NC-126, NC-126, Nebo, 28761

Granite Granite Falls Falls Brewing Brewing 47 47Duke DukeStreet, Street, Granite Falls, NC 28630

Granite Falls, NC 28630

Old Fort, NC 28762

Happy Valley Filling Station Keepers Cut Meadery 1275 Hwy 268, Lenoir, NC 28645

175 Henderson Street, Marion, NC 28752

Liquid Roots Brewing Project Liquid Roots Brewing Project 1048 1048Harper HarperAvenue, Avenue, Lenoir, NC 28645 Lenoir, NC 28645 MicaTown Brewery

MicaTown Brewery 25 Brown Drive, Marion, NC 28752 25 Brown Drive, Marion, NC 28752 Olde Hickory Brewing

Olde Brewing 23rdHickory Street SW, Hickory, NC 28602 23rd Street SW, Hickory, NC 28602 Sidetracked Brewery

Sidetracked 609 S GreenBrewery Street, Morganton, 28655 609 S GreenNC Street, Morganton, NC 28655 The Levee Brewery

118 Levee Main Street W, Valdese, NC 28690 The Brewery 118 Main Street W, Valdese, NC 28690

discoverburkecounty.com • (828) 433-6793 Visitor’s Center • 110 E. Meeting Street • Morganton, NC

Let The Gaston County ‘Cue Trail Be Your Guide To Some Great Eating

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hether you’re an aficionado or just want to tr y something new, look to the Gaston County ‘Cue Trail. We have unique and historic traditions in barbecue culture, and a wide variety of experiences for you to try. Let the Gaston County Cue Trail be your guide.

Start this trail off right by visiting The Schiele Museum for Carolina ‘Cue, sponsored by First Horizon Bank. This new exhibit features the histor y of barbecue, the science behind rubs and sauces, memorabilia from local restaurants, and is a great way to get you hankering for a taste from this trail.

The Gaston County ‘Cue Trail cur rently includes eight locations, most of which are easily accessible along I-85, with the first and last being a bit of a drive, but totally worth it. Driving east to west across the county, here is where you will find the best BBQ in Gaston County.

EXIT 27

From traditional fixin’s to menu items you won’t find elsewhere in the county, RayNathan’s serves up barbecue and brisket with style.

EXIT 22

Just a hop, skip, and a jump from I-85 at exit 22, Kyle Fletcher’s and Hillbilly ’s are the next two stops on the trail. For a tr uly immersive experience, dine in at Kyle Fletcher ’s and you’ll be r ubbing elbows with regulars who have enjoyed this place for 27 years. On your way out, don’t f o r g e t t o g r a b a “ G e t Po r k e d at Kyle’s!” t-shirt. Also at this exit, heading towards Lowell, is Hillbilly ’s. Open daily, they offer drive-thru and dine-in options, with a full menu, specials, and a popular salad bar.

EXIT 21

The only chain restaurant on the list, Smoke Pit is located at Cox Rd, exit 21. We wouldn’t be surprised to see this place expand as their tasty menu items could rival our local favorites.

EXIT 17

Visitors will find RayNathan’s The next three stops are l o c a t e d a n e a s y, t e n - m i n u t e l o c a t e d c l o s e t o d o w n t o w n country drive, south from exit 27.

Continued On Page 9

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

Great Eating In Gaston Continued From Page 6

Gastonia and are all easily accessible from exit 17. Gather your friends and family and head to either Ole Carolina BBQ or Ray ’s Countr y Smokehouse for great Q’ in a relaxed atmosphere.

Or, find R.O.’s, another treasure with slaw so popular, you can find it in local grocer y stores. For a truly authentic experience, you’ll want to check out their brick-andmortar location for the famous barbecue sandwich with slaw.

business has been done since 1957 when Black’s Barbecue first opened. The specialty is their barbecue sandwich – pulled pork with Black’s famous barbecue slaw. You can also purchase pork by the pound along with barbecue slaw and buns for DIY family style!

If your motto is do as the locals do, and you want the authentic Gaston County barbecue experience, then look no further than the Gaston Co. Cue Trail. How many The last stop on our trail is can you check off this list? off the beaten path but is worth www.gogastonnc.org/bbq-trail the drive if you are looking for Gaston County offers visitors an old-fashioned experience. Pull a variety of attractions to into a parking space adjacent to enhance your trip dining and the building and a carhop takes entertainment parks, art and history and more. your order, cash only – just like www.gogaston.org

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

Blast Into Summer Adventure In Stokes County

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ireworks, Burgers, and Family Fun, Stokes County has a flavorful weekend to kick off the month of July in a Stokes County State of Mind.

Starting on July 2nd, Lawsonville is host to the third annual Stokes County Independence Day Celebration featuring an E l v i s P r e s l e y Tr i b u t e f r o m Ta y l o r Va d e n a n d M e m p h i s Thunder. Memphis Thunder is an authentic 1950s tribute band focusing on the early hits of Elvis Presley. The vintage look and sound of this band takes the audience back to the years when Elvis’ career started and launched into stardom, Elvis Tr i b u t e A r t i s t Ta y l o r Va d e n leads with vocals/rhythm guitar.

This event also features food trucks, bouncy houses, and games for kids, vendors, and additional entertainers. The evening concludes with a massive firework display sure to ignite your spark from a local pyrotechnic company.

For visiting foodies the City of King hosts an annual BurgerFest where visitors can participate to grill up their most authentic burger recipe or sample and vote for your favorite ground chuck patty.

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Explore vendors and activities as you savor the seasoning before casting your vote for Best Burger where the winner takes the $500 grand prize.

Wa l n u t C o v e c o n t i n u e s the weekend celebration with Fireworks and a concert by The Fenders held annually at Lions Park. Various activities are held on the playground for kids to enjoy while local Lions Club members ser ve up traditional concessions, soda pop, and salty treats. Bring a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a picnic with family and friends to sit back and watch the fireworks light the sky at dusk.

The City of King closes out the FUN 4th Holiday with a large firework display visible as far as the eye can see around the city. Fireworks are launched from Recreation Acres at dusk and bring the young ones to Ever yone’s Playground loaded with accessible equipment. Toss a disc with your partner on the new Disc Golf Course located near the skateboarding park at Recreation Acres.

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Cary Beer Bourbon & BBQ Festival

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ar y ’s favorite BBQ Festival is back and better than ever! The 15th Annual Cary Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival is a two-day event… Friday, August 5th, 6pm – 10pm and Saturday, August 6th, 12pm – 6pm at Koka Booth Amphitheater. Enjoy all those pleasures that true Southerners live by - Beer, Bourbon, Barbeque, Boots, Bacon, Biscuits, Bluegrass and Smoked Beasts! It’s two great days of beer sippin’, bourbon tastin’, music listenin’, cigar smokin’ and barbeque eatin’. Your Admission buys you a souvenir glass so you can enjoy an ALL-YOU-CARETO-TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon. The Shrine of Swine offers up whole hogs, exotic smoked meats and more! Enjoy Seminars in the Tasting Theater with Master Distillers, Brewmasters

or Pit Masters. Dance or Rock out to the bands and DJ playing your favorite tunes throughout the day.

Browse brewerania, hot sauces and BBQ accessories. There will be an enhanced New Gaming Area - unleash your Inner Kid... go ahead, no one is looking!

2 Big Days with over 60+ Beers, 40+ Bourbons and Lots of BBQ! Friday Night VIP and General Admission – 6pm – 10pm Saturday VIP – 12pm-6pm Saturday General Admission – 2pm-6pm Grand Poobah – Both Friday Night VIP and Saturday VIP tickets plus other goodies!

For more info, go to our website: cary. beerandbourbon.com

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

Eden Marketing & Special Events with the Draper Merchants Association present

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY TO YOUR FAVORITE BEACH MUSIC!

FREE ADMISSION! Great food & beer garden (no outside coolers please) Bring your lawnchair & friends!

FOR MORE INFO, CINDY ADAMS AT 336-623-2110 OR CADAMS@EDENNC.US

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MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION

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Inspired Music Making: Eastern Music Festival

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a s t e r n M u s i c Fe s t i v a l (EMF), Greensboro’s nationally recognized classical music festival and summer educational program, is celebrating its 61st season June 25 through July 30, 2022!

The 2022 season boasts 60+ EMF events by our professional and young artist orchestras, var ying chamber ensembles, and more. Tickets range in price, but EMF features several free and Pay What You Can performances.

Days and nights at EMF are filled with echoes of music across the campus of Guilford C o l l e g e . H u n d r e d s o f Yo u n g Artists practice, per for m, and strive for musical excellence; teachers guide and encourage the students; and world-class guest artists and mentors share their talents and wisdom. For five weeks, the community is abuzz with the sounds that are EMF. Students exemplify the best of what great music can foster through their dedication and passion for music.

We are looking for ward to ring in the season this year with a spark of patriotism. The first p e r f o r m a n c e o f o u r Fe s t i v a l Orchestra Series entitled All American Celebration, will feature violinist, L ara St. John.

The famous Barber Concerto will be performed, with St. John adding her “high-powered” spunk to the piece. Join us Saturday, July 2nd at 8PM for this much-anticipated performance!

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For concert tickets and more information about Eastern Music Festival, visit EasternMusicFestival.org.

Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

2 big days with 60+ beers, 40+ bourbons, and lots of bbq!

brew it. taste it. sip it. pork it.

AUGUST 5 & 6 KOKA BOOTH AMPHITHEATER www.beerandbourbon.com

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Since 1976, on the 2nd Saturday in August, Valdese hosts an annual festival to celebrate the “Glorious Return” of the Waldenses from exile in Switzerland to their native valleys in the Cottian Alps of Italy in 1689. This celebration is mirrored around the world by other Waldensian communities.

The Waldenses founded the Town of Valdese in 1893 and each year on this special weekend Valdese welcomes visitors and locals alike for a weekend full of special festivities. Join us for outstanding entertainment, food, tours, bocce & fun for everyone! We invite you to come dance in our streets!

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

Go With The RoCo Flow

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ockingham County Tourism Development Authority is excited to unveil its new Blueway Branding. With the branding comes a new and improved RoCo Blueway Guide which ser ves as the County ’s primar y source for river and lake information and safety protocols.

June

Blueways are navigable water ways based along rivers or lakes for recreational use.

Rockingham County is home to three lakes and four flowing rivers. That is over 4,500 acres and 88 miles of water! These water trails help promote healthy lifestyles, attract tourism, drive economic development, increase cultural and historical awareness, and encourage continued conser vation efforts of the county ’s natural resources and wildlife.

Whether you are planning to boat, paddle, or float, the RoCo Blueway guide details each access point, historical infor mation, water levels and river conditions, and what to expect on your trip (including safety tips). From beginner to experienced, RoCo Blueways have something to offer ever yone. Copies of the RoCo Blueway Guide will be available Continued On Page 19

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Primal Brewery Belmont 52 Ervin St Belmont, NC 28012

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The Perfect Way To Cool Off In The Summer

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ummer is in full swing and that means the heat has set in. Escape the heat wave and cool off in Burke County!

We h a v e m a n y g r e a t a r e a s t o relax, and connect with the cold, crisp water that you and your friends and family will be ever so thankful for.

size. Both Valdese and Morganton have great community splash pads waiting for your children to come play and meet new friends!

Wa t e r f a l l s : H e r e i n B u r k e County we have 4 great waterfalls to hike to and enjoy— They are the perfect way to cool off in the summer while still enjoying a nice walk through the shady wooded trails. McGalliard Falls in Valdese is ver y close to the main road, yet has a great park and picnic area as well as a beautiful waterfall that people can splash around at the base of.

We also recommend Upper Creek falls for some great swimming holes and a natural slide for more experienced hikers.

Lake James Swim Beach: Pa d d y ’ s C r e e k B e a c h a t L a k e James State Park is the perfect beach setting without having to drive to the coast. Cool off in the clear waters of L ake James while your children build sand castles in the sand or watch as the boats drive by. There are also hiking trails, picnic areas and clean public restrooms so you can spend the whole day without having to get back into your car.

Although all of these It is the per fect area to please places are open 7 days a week, people of all ages and interests. weekends can get a little busy, for your most wor r y free and M a r t h a s Pa r k a n d Va l d e s e r e l a x i n g e x p e r i e n c e , a s w e l l Splash Pads: If you have younger a s l o w e r r a t e s , v i s i t u s o n children in your life, going to a weekday! crowded beaches can be an overwhelming experience. Splash Burke County, North Carolina has an adventure for everyone. pads are perfect for allowing For more information about them to prance around and have the above activities or more fun in a contained area with happening here, visit www. discoverburkecounty.com. other children of their age and

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

RoCo Flow Stokes County Continued From Page 17

at all Rockingham County river and lake access points, outfitter and rental locations, Chambers of Commerce, hotels, and various local businesses, as well as, visitor and welcome centers statewide.

To download a digital copy or request a copy by mail, visit visitrockinghamcountync.com.

Create your own adventure and plan a getaway to explore Rockingham County.

Be responsible, be respectful, and conserve! YOU’RE IN A GOOD PLACE…TO GO WITH THE FLOW! #knowbeforeyougo #rocktheRoCo #visitRoCo

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Local & Regional Destinations & Experiences

Stokes County Continued From Page 11

AWS ADVANCED WEALTH STRATEGIES

The fun continues all month long as Moratock Park ser ves as a hot spot for outdoor recreation and water activities. Spend a day in the Dan River and melt away your summer stress with tubing, swimming, and grilling. L ocal outfitters are available to provide canoes, kayaks, or tubes, not to mention, shuttle services to drop-off points located along the river. When planning your summer destination choose Stokes County for lazy summer nights, music in the streets, and cold craft beer to quench your summer thirst for adventure!

Find itinerary ideas, places to stay, and local event calendar to plan your getaway at www.hangingrock.com

We believe it’s not about what you have;

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Take out only. $5 dollar additional charge required for all new Duckworth’s growlers. Special price only applies to $9 growlers & 1 topping pizzas. Extra toppings ($1.75 each) & higher price growlers are available for an additional charge

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